System and method for creating cavitation and/or flash

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for creating a cavitation effect and/or flash effect. The apparatus and method can be used in a food product molding machine.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for creatingcavitation and/or flash effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cavitation is defined as the process of formation of the vapor phase ofa liquid when it is subjected to reduced pressures at constant ambienttemperature. A liquid is said to cavitate when vapor bubbles form andgrow as a consequence of vapor production. When the phase transitionresults from hydrodynamic pressure changes, a two-phase flow composed ofa liquid and its vapor is called a cavitating flow. Cavitating flow maybe seen and heard as water flows through a glass venturi tube. Anotherexample of cavitation occurs in the low pressure regions on marinepropellers at high rotation rates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for creatingcavitation and/or flash. It is an object of the present invention forthe apparatus and method to be used with a food product molding machine.It is an object of the present invention for the apparatus and method tobe used on a breather plate of a food product molding machine.

It is an object of the present invention to create cavitation by using asphere which is connected to a cylinder. It is an object of the presentinvention for there to be a ratio between the sphere and cylinder whichcreates the cavitation. It is an object of the present invention to havecavitation with flash. It is an object of the present invention to havecavitation without flash.

It is an object of the present invention for the cavitation to be usedwith a food product such as meat such that the cavitation breaks up theparticle size of sinew of the meat and moves the meat along. It is anobject of the present invention for the cavitation to cause the meat tobecome fluffy.

It is an object of the present invention for any product that goes fromthe sphere to the cylinder to have an acceleration and a pressure drop.A change in temperature correlates to a change in pressure. Thedifferent factors which contribute to the cavitation are pressuredifference, diameter difference, length difference, acceleration and adifference of the media.

It is an object of the present invention that when a user wants tocreate flash that a shorter cylinder length combined with a diameterratio differences between sphere and cylinder is used.

It is an object of the present invention that any appliance that usesfuel, liquid or gas can use the sphere-cylinder device to create acavitation. It is an object of the present invention to createcavitation within a dryer or hot water heater with or without flash.

It is an object of the present invention to use the cavitation with abreather plate in a food processing machine or with a gradiating device.

It is an object of the present invention for a hole or orifice to changesize from a larger to a smaller diameter with vertical or concave sides.The principle has design similarities to a venturi. By changing thediameters of a sphere and/or cylinder, a venturi design createscavitation. The restriction to the flow of product results in productacceleration with a corresponding pressure drop through the orifice.

By reducing the cross-sectional area of a tube through which a substancepasses, the velocity is increased. This is the principle of Conservationof Mass. When the velocity increases the pressure of the material isreduced. This is the principle of the Conservation of Energy.

For every liquid, there is a ratio between the cross-sectional area (C)and the cross-sectional area (c) through which velocity can only beincreased by reducing temperature or increasing pressure. Althoughground meat is not a homogeneous liquid, the same concepts still apply.

As a result, using the geometric properties of a sphere or similar shapeallows the ability to obtain cavitation properties using standardproduction practices.

All points on a sphere are the same distance from a fixed point.Contours and plane sections of spheres are circles. Spheres have thesame width and girth. Spheres have maximum volume with minimum surfacearea. All of the above properties allow meat to flow with minimuminterruptions. There are no static or dead zones. No matter what anglethe cylinder intersects the sphere, the cross section is always aperfect circle.

It is an object of the present invention to have spherical geometry or asimilar shape in breather plate to create cavitation effects.

The present invention relates to a food molding machine having abreather plate. A breather plate normally has a thickness less than3/16″ in the area of the breather holes. A breather plate is positionedadjacent to the mold plate and opposite the fill slot plate. Thebreather plate is designed to evacuate air from the patty cavities andcollect and route excess food matter back to a food supply source. Thebreather plate contains various ports which allow evacuation of air andaccumulation of excess food matter from the filled patty cavities. Theports feed into a channel of openings which is cut into the back side ofthe breather plate.

A stationary or movable breather plate sits adjacent to the mold plateon the opposite side of the fill slot, and slideably engages the moldplate. The breather plate includes at least one air pressure releasepassage, wherein a plurality of small breather holes enable the cavitiesof the mold plate to fluidly communicate with the passage. The airpassage enables air in the cavities to escape as the machine pumps thecavities full of meat. The mold cover plate is adjacent the breatherplate and its associated passage.

In the current breather plate designs there is a resistance to formingthe patties wherein evacuate out of the holes in the breather plate. Inthe case of prior art breather plates, the orifices are cylindrical andvary in number of orifices and diameters.

This air flow can be accelerated by using a system which will reduce thecylinder size. Using the equation from Bernoulli's law of A₁V₁=A₂V₂, thevelocity is increased by reducing the cross sectional area.

The typical way of accomplishing this is the use of a venturi nozzle.However, a venturi requires a gradual area reduction and a finite lengththroat. Given the restrictions of the plate thickness in the breathingarea, it is not feasible to put current venturi designs in a breatherplate.

However, utilizing the properties of a sphere, the air can achieveacceleration by intersecting a cylinder with a sphere of a largerdiameter.

In a sphere pressure is equal in all directions. Therefore, when thesphere is intersected by a cylinder, the air will move in a directioncoaxial with the cylinder at a high velocity. The impact on the meatparticles in the breather system is greater because air moving at ahigher velocity will generate more momentum.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cavitation effectin the orifice by creating a sphere to cylinder orifice having specificdiameter and/or cross sectional areas between the sphere and cylinder.This creates a cavitation effect. This causes the product to change itsmaterial state. It is an object of the invention for this to create aself-cleaning breather plate. The spherical cut creates equal pressurein all directions. It is an object of the present invention to have aspherical structure which has a diameter which is no greater than thechoke flow for the liquid gas or solid used and is no less than thediameter of the connected cylindrical portion.

The present invention relates to a food molding machine having a moldplate and at least one mold cavity therein. A mold plate drive isconnected to the mold plate for driving the mold plate along a givenpath, and a repetitive cycle, between a fill position and a dischargeposition. A food pump is provided for pumping a moldable food productthrough a fill passage connecting the food pump to the mold cavity whenthe mold plate is in the fill position. A fill plate, interposed in thefill passage adjacent to the mold plate has a fill slot, fill horn, ormultiplicity of fill orifices distributed in a predetermined patternthroughout an area aligned with the mold cavity when the mold plate isin fill position. It is an object of the present invention for the pathsto comprise spherical structures. It is an object of the presentinvention to have a spherical structure which has a diameter which is nogreater than the choke flow for the liquid gas or solid used and is noless than the diameter of the connected cylindrical portion. It is anobject of the present invention for the side of the fill plate which isin contact with the stripper plate to comprise a spherical structure. Bychanges in the ratio of the diameter and/or cross sectional area of thesphere to the cylinder, a “cavitation” condition is created. By using aspherical structure intersected with a cylinder, it creates transitionswhich can be manufactured whose geometry creates a cavitation.

It is an object of the present invention for the stripper plate to beinterposed in the fill passage immediately adjacent to the fill plate.It is an object of the present invention for the stripper plate to bemovable between the fill and covered and/or partially covered dischargelocations. It is an object of the present invention for the stripperplate to have a multiplicity of fill openings aligned one-for-one withthe fill orifices in the fill plate when the stripper plate is in fillposition. It is an object of the present invention for the stripperplate drive to be synchronized with the mold plate drive, such that themovement of the stripper plate facilitates the cutting of the meatproduct, which was pushed through the fill plate by the food pump. It isan object of the present invention for the stripper plate drive to movethe stripper plate to its discharge position, in each mold cycle, beforethe mold plate moves appreciably toward the discharge location. It is anobject of the present invention for the stripper plate drive to maintainthe stripper plate in the discharge position until the mold plate cavityis displaced beyond the fill orifices.

It is an object of the present invention to have a spherical structurewhich has a diameter which is no greater than the choke flow for theliquid gas or solid used and is no less than the diameter of theconnected cylindrical portion to create conditions to meat flow whichmaintain improved cell structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cavitation effectin the orifice by creating a sphere to cylinder hole with a ratiobetween the diameters or the cross sectional areas. This creates acavitation effect. It is an object of the present invention for this tobe used in a fill plate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cavitation effectin the orifice by creating a sphere to cylinder hole with a ratiobetween the diameters or the cross sectional areas. This creates acavitation effect. It is an object of the present invention for this tobe used in a stripper plate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cavitation effectin the orifice by creating a sphere to cylinder hole with a ratiobetween the diameters or the cross sectional areas. This creates acavitation effect. It is an object of the present invention for this tobe used in a breather plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a breather plate 10 having anorifice 12 that is comprised of a spherical section 14 and a cylindricalsection 16. Based on the diameter and cross-sectional area of thespherical section 14, and the cylindrical section 16, a cavitation iscreated.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the breather plate 10 having orifices 12which is comprised of a spherical section 14 and a cylindrical section16.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a breather plate 10 having orifices 12 whichare comprised of a spherical section 14 and a cylindrical section 16.

Below is a table showing different sizes for the cylinder diameter,cylinder cross-section, spherical diameter, spherical cross-sectionalarea, all of which create a sphere to cylinder diameter ratio and asphere to cylinder cross-sectional ratio.

SPHERICAL CYLINDER CROSS- CROSS- CROSS- SPHERICAL SECTIONAL CYLINDERSECTIONAL DIAMETER SECTIONAL DIAMETER AREA DIAMETER AREA RATIO AREARATIO .110 .0095 .040 .0012 2.75 7.92 .110 .0095 .045 .00159 2.44 5.97.110 .0095 .050 .00196 2.20 4.84 .110 .0095 .055 .00237 2.00 4.00 .110.0095 .060 .0028 1.83 3.39 .110 .0095 .064 .0032 1.719 2.96 BREATHERPLATE DIAMETERS AND CROSS SECTIONAL AREAS FOR .125 SPHERE 0.1250.012271836 0.0400 0.00126 3.125 9.766 0.125 0.012271836 0.0450 0.001592.778 7.716 0.125 0.012271836 0.0500 0.00196 2.500 6.250 0.1250.012271836 0.0550 0.00238 2.273 5.165 0.125 0.012271836 0.0600 0.002832.083 4.340 0.125 0.012271836 0.0640 0.00322 1.953 3.815

A food molding machine has a mold plate and at least one mold cavitytherein. A mold plate drive is connected to the mold plate for drivingthe mold plate along a given path, and a repetitive cycle, between afill position and a discharge position. A food pump pumps a moldablefood product through a fill passage connecting the food pump to the moldcavity when the mold plate is in the fill position. A fill plate,interposed in the fill passage immediately adjacent to the mold platehas a fill slot, fill horn, or multiplicity of fill orifices distributedin a predetermined pattern throughout an area aligned with the moldcavity when the mold plate is in fill position. In an embodiment, theside of the fill plate which is in contact with the stripper plateconsists of a spherical structure that has a diameter which is nogreater than the choke flow for the liquid gas or solid used and is noless than the diameter of the connected cylindrical portion. By using aspherical structure intersected by a cylinder it creates transitionswhich can be manufactured whose geometry provides a cavitation effect.

A stripper plate is interposed in the fill passage immediately adjacentto the fill plate. The stripper plate is movable between the fill anddischarge locations. The stripper plate has a multiplicity of fillopenings aligned one-for-one with the fill orifices in the fill platewhen the stripper plate is in fill position. A stripper plate drive issynchronized with the mold plate drive, such that the movement of thestripper plate facilitates the cutting of the meat product, which waspushed through the fill plate by the food pump. The stripper plate drivemoves the stripper plate to its discharge position, in each mold cycle,before the mold plate moves appreciably toward the discharge location.The stripper plate drive maintains the stripper plate in the dischargeposition until the mold plate cavity is displaced beyond the fillorifices.

A spherical geometry feeding into a circular cross section creates aproduct velocity increase while maintaining more consistent pressure onthe food product. A sphere has the following properties:

-   -   All points on a sphere are the same distance from a fixed point.    -   Contours and plane sections of spheres are circles.    -   Spheres have the same width and girth.    -   Spheres have maximum volume with minimum surface area.    -   These properties allow food products to flow with minimum        interruptions. There are no static or dead zones.    -   No matter what angle the cylinder intersects the sphere; the        cross section is always a perfect circle.    -   Pressure inside of a sphere is uniform in all directions.

When food product is passed through a circular cross section of asphere, the fact that pressure is uniform in a sphere creates forceswhich will be coaxial with the sphere. The reduction in area acceleratesthe food product through the cylindrical section of the fill plate.

1. A food molding machine, comprising: a mold plate having at least onemold cavity therein, along a given path, in a repetitive cycle, betweena fill position and a discharge position; food pump for pumping amoldable food product; a fill passage connecting said food pump to saidmold cavity when said mold plate is in said fill position; a fill plate,interposed in said fill passage adjacent to said mold plate; a breatherplate; said breather plate having a fill slot, fill horn or multiplicityof orifices distributed in a predetermined pattern throughout an area;said orifices fill slot, or fill horn defining paths through saidbreather plate, wherein said fill slot, fill horn or orifices create acavitation effect.
 2. The food molding machine of claim 1 wherein saidorifice or fill slot comprise a spherical structure intersecting acylindrical area.
 3. The food molding machine of claim 1 wherein saidfill slot, fill horn or orifices are spaced in direction of movement andsaid fill slot, fill horn, or orifices have diameter such that the ratioof diameter of the spherical structure in the breather plate to diameterof the cylindrical area of the breather plate is approximately 1.01 to4.0.
 4. The food patty machine of claim 3 having a breather plateutilizing the intersection of a spherical structure with a cylinder inorder to create a cross section which represents a cavitation effect insaid orifice.
 5. A breather plate which comprises a fill slot, fillhorn, or multiplicity of orifices which are comprised of a sphericalstructure which intersects a cylindrical section to create a cavitationeffect.
 6. The breather plate of claim 5, in which the ratio of thediameter of the spherical structure and the diameter of the cylindricalportion are of a ratio to create a cavitation effect on the moldablefood product as it passes through the breather plate.
 7. The foodmolding machine of claim 1 wherein said moldable food product comprisesmeat.
 8. The food molding machine of claim 7 wherein said cavitationbreaks up particle size of sinew of the meat and moves said meat along.9. The food molding machine of claim 7 wherein said cavitation causessaid meat to become fluffy.
 10. The food product molding machine ofclaim 1 wherein said breather plate orifices change size from a largerto a smaller diameter with vertical or concave sides.
 11. The foodproduct molding machine of claim 1 which comprises a nozzle, venturi,orifice, or a restriction to flow which results in a cavitation due toproduct acceleration with a corresponding pressure drop through saidorifice.
 12. A food product molding machine comprising: a mold plate andat least one mold cavity therein; a mold plate drive connected to saidmold plate a food pump for pumping a moldable food product through afill passage connecting said food pump to said mold cavity when saidmold plate is in fill position; a fill plate, interposed in said fillpassage adjacent to said mold plate; a breather plate; a fill slot, fillhorn, or multiplicity of breather plate orifices distributed in apredetermined pattern throughout an area; said orifices comprising aspherical structure intersecting with a cylinder to create cavitation.13. The food product molding machine of claim 12 wherein said a breatherplate comprises a spherical structure which has a diameter approximately1.01 to 4.0 greater than said cylinder.
 14. A breather plate for a foodproduct molding machine comprising: orifices which evacuate air andaccumulation of excess food matter from filled patty cavities; saidorifices providing a cavitation effect by creating a sphere to cylinderorifice.
 15. The breather plate of claim 14 wherein said orificesaccelerate food matter through the orifice.
 16. The breather plate ofclaim 14 wherein said orifices create a self-cleaning breather plate.17. The breather plate of claim 14 wherein said sphere creates equalpressure in all directions.
 18. The breather plate of claim 14 whereinsaid sphere has a diameter between 1.01 to 4.0 times greater than saidcylinder which intersects the same.
 19. A food product molding machine,comprising: a mold plate having at least one mold cavity therein, alonga given path, in a repetitive cycle, between a fill position and adischarge position; food pump for pumping a moldable food product; afill passage connecting said food pump to said mold cavity when saidmold plate is in said fill position; a fill plate, interposed in saidfill passage adjacent to said mold plate; said fill plate having a fillslot, fill horn, or multiplicity of fill orifices distributed in apredetermined pattern throughout an area aligned with said mold cavitywhen said fill plate is in its fill position; said fill orificesdefining paths through said fill plate, a stripper plate interposed insaid fill passage adjacent side of said fill plate opposite said moldplate, and movable along a path transverse to said mold plate pathbetween said fill location and discharge position; said stripper platehaving a multiplicity of fill openings aligned one-for-one with saidfill orifices as extensions thereof when said stripper plate drive is insaid fill location; and stripper plate drive, synchronized with saidmold plate drive between its fill location and discharge location; saidorifices are spaced in a direction of movement and said orifices have aspherical structure intersecting a connected cylindrical portion in saidfill plate to create cavitation.
 20. The food product molding machine ofclaim 19 wherein said orifices are spaced in direction of movement andsaid orifices have diameter such that the ratio of diameter of thespherical structure in the fill plate to diameter of the cylindricalarea of the fill plate is approximately 1.01 to 4.0.
 21. The foodproduct machine of claim 19 having a fill plate utilizing theintersection of a spherical structure with a cylinder in order to createa cross section which represents a cavitation orifice.
 22. The foodproduct molding machine of claim 19 wherein said moldable food productcomprises meat.
 23. The food product molding machine of claim 19 whereinsaid fill orifices change size from a larger to a smaller diameter withvertical or concave sides.
 24. The food product molding machine of claim19 which comprises a nozzle, venturi, orifice, or a restriction to flowwhich results in product acceleration with a corresponding pressure dropthrough said orifice.
 25. A food product molding machine comprising: amold plate and at least one mold cavity therein; a mold plate driveconnected to said mold plate a food pump for pumping a moldable foodproduct through a fill passage connecting said food pump to said moldcavity when said mold plate is in fill position; a fill plate,interposed in said fill passage adjacent to said mold plate a fill slot,fill horn, or multiplicity of fill orifices distributed in apredetermined pattern throughout an area aligned with said mold cavitywhen said mold plate is in fill position; said paths comprising aspherical structure intersecting a cylindrical structure to createcavitation.
 26. The food product molding machine of claim 25 furthercomprising: side of said fill plate in contact with said stripper platecomprise a spherical structure which has a diameter approximately 1.01to 4.0 greater than a cylindrical portion which intersects it.
 27. Amethod for creating cavitation comprising: placing a liquid or moldableproduct through a spherical structure connected to a cylindrical portionwherein when said product goes from said sphere to said cylinder thereis an acceleration of said product and a pressure drop; creating acavitation effect to said product.
 28. The method claim 27 wherein saidproduct further experiences flash.
 29. The method of claim 27 whereinsaid product is a product used in a food product molding machine. 30.The method of claim 27 wherein said product is meat.
 31. The method ofclaim 27 wherein said spherical structure connected to said cylindricalportion is found in a breather plate.
 32. The method of claim 27 whereinsaid cavitation breaks up particle size of sinew of said meat and movessaid meat along.
 33. The method of claim 27 wherein said cavitationcauses said meat to become fluffy.
 34. The method of claim 27 whereinfactors that contribute to said cavitation consist of pressuredifference, diameter difference, length difference, acceleration betweensaid sphere and said cylinder, or a difference in media involved. 35.The method of claim 28 wherein said flash is created when a shortercylinder length is combined with diameter radio differences between saidsphere and said cylinder.
 36. The method of claim 27 wherein said methodis used with any device that uses fuel, liquid or gas in asphere-cylinder device.
 37. The method of claim 27 wherein the sphericalstructure has a diameter approximately 1.01 to 4.0 greater than acylindrical portion which intersects it.
 38. A system for creatingcavitation comprising a spherical section connected to a cylindricalsection wherein there is a difference in either diameter, length orcross-sectional area between the spherical structure and saidcylindrical portion to create said cavitation.